Committee clearance refers to which of the following?

• A. The ability of Congress to veto presidential actions after the fact
• B. A process to expand agency discretion without law
• C. The ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law
• D. A method for the judiciary to review agency decisions

Answer: (C)

Committee clearance is an oversight practice in which a congressional committee reviews and approves certain agency decisions before they’re implemented, without the need to pass new legislation. This ex ante review helps ensure proposed agency actions align with legislative intent and gives lawmakers a chance to shape policy before it goes into effect. It’s not about vetoing actions after they occur, nor does it create new discretion for agencies without law; instead, it provides a preapproval mechanism that can constrain or guide agency decisions to fit Congress’s preferences. It also doesn’t involve the judiciary, which would be courts reviewing agency decisions.